51. ZARA
ZARA
“Did Seth give you the amplifying stone?”
I frowned at Gabriel’s question. “You mean the little black pebble?”
He nodded. “It will amplify the connection between you enough for you to dream walk to him through the gateway. So he can explain everything to you properly without fear of Michael overhearing him. But it will only work once.”
“I don’t understand. If there’s a way for me to dream walk to him, why didn’t you give it to me before?”
“It was created in the Underworld and attuned to Seth’s aura.
It was necessary for him to physically give it to you for it to connect the two of you.
We have no way of knowing how long the effect will last once you’re in, it could be hours or just minutes.
So you should probably talk first this time,” he added with a grin.
Oh gods. I really hoped he hadn’t overheard our little bathroom tryst. I was kicking myself for not having had the presence of mind to cast a silencing bubble, which was one of the few bits of fae magic I’d actually managed to get a handle on now.
“So do I just hold it when I’m seeking Seth? Or do I have to do something to activate it?”
“It was activated when he gave it to you. Just keep it with you and you should be able to reach him. But you should probably wait a day or two. I’m guessing you’re feeling a bit let down now you know he really is staying there by choice not force.
Getting thrown out of the dream space when you’re in the middle of hurling accusations at him would be distressing for both of you I think.
Take some time to come to terms with that first.”
“I’m not really sure how I feel,” I admitted. “When I thought maybe you or Lucien were keeping him there against his will I was angry, but not at him. At the situation. Now I know he’s still there because he wants to be, I…”
“You feel betrayed. That’s understandable. But there’s a lot more going on here than you realise, Zara. What happens next will affect the lives of a lot of people. This is bigger than you and Seth. Bigger even than Luci. It’s make or break time for the Underworld.”
“How come you’re being so nice to me now?” I was used to snarky comments from him, not sympathy.
“I’m always nice, kitten. Except when you bring out the worst in me. I have to admit you’re good at that.” A little smile played around his lips and I couldn’t help chuckling.
“Someone has to keep your shiny angel arse in line.”
“Seriously, Zara, I’m not your enemy. You can trust me.”
“And what about the others? Have they given any indication they’d move against Michael?”
“I’m pretty sure they’re all as concerned about Michael’s behaviour as I am.
But we’re all avoiding being the first to mention it openly, for obvious reasons.
That’s not something you need to worry yourself with though.
You just stick to the terms of the deal you made with Michael and leave us to handle him.
That oath you agreed to is binding, Zara, and binding oaths take on a life of their own.
If it’s broken, you will face consequences that none of us would be able to protect you from. ”
“What kind of consequences are we talking about? What’s the worst case scenario?” That was probably a question I should have asked before I agreed to it, but I hadn’t exactly been thinking clearly at the time.
“Worst case? Death. But by the time it got to that point, you’d probably be begging for death anyway.” Well shit. No wonder everyone had been so angry with me.
“It goes both ways of course. The good news is that we would suffer those exact same consequences were we to go back on our word.”
“What about Seth?” I panicked at the thought that he was working against Michael, and he was most certainly someone I cared about. “Will anything he does rebound on me too?”
“No. I wouldn’t have let you make the oath if that were the case. Anything Seth does is part of the Prophecy playing out. It won’t affect you.”
“So there really isn’t anything more I can do, is there?” I said sadly.
“You can use the stone when you’re ready. I think when you hear what Seth has to say it might make you feel better. But don’t use it until you’re sure you are ready. It would be a shame to waste it after all the effort he went through to get it to you.”
“I won’t waste it,” I promised. I might throw it at his head when I was done though. “But why did he only bring me one?”
“Because there can only be one such connection in existence at any one time. Otherwise I’m sure he’d have insisted on bringing you as many as he could carry. I’m sorry.”
I nodded. “At least I have one. And maybe if I’m able to visit him once, it will strengthen our connection enough that I can reach him again without needing one next time.”
He shrugged. “It’s unlikely, although I suppose stranger things have happened when it comes to you. I suggest you still make this best of this visit though. Oh, and one last thing before I go. Can you give that obnoxious pet god of yours a message from me next time you see him?”
“Depends what it is.” I couldn’t imagine what he might have to say to Nero.
“Tell him to keep out of my dream pavilion, will you. He had the audacity to have a picnic here last night and he didn’t even have the decency to take his rubbish away with him.”
He sounded so scandalised I was still giggling about it long after we’d parted ways.
“Gabriel asked me to give you a message. He said to tell you to stay out of his dream pavilion.”
“I can’t think what he’s talking about.” Nero looked so innocent I could almost believe Gabriel had been making it up. Almost.
“A picnic, Nero? Really? Why would you do that?”
He shrugged. “I was bored. And it was a lovely night for a picnic. Besides, my apprentice seems to be spending more time there than here lately. I thought I should check it out properly and see what the attraction is.”
“Oh my gods,” I said with a giggle. “Are you jealous?”
He huffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. What could I possibly have to be jealous about?”
“Someone trying to steal your favourite apprentice maybe?” I fluttered my eyelashes at him. “That’s me, by the way. In case you weren’t sure.”
“You have a very high opinion of yourself, Mathitevómenos.” His haughty tone didn’t fool me for a second. “It’s lucky for you that you are my favourite apprentice. Or I might decide to zap you for your insolence.”
I winced at the memory of last time. “Please don’t. That really stings. And I have something interesting to show you if you’re nice to me.” I pulled the little black pebble out of my pocket and held it up so he could see it.
“It’s an amplifying stone. Gabriel said it will give my connection to Seth a boost and let me find him in his dreamscape.
But it will only work once.” I snatched it out of his reach as he went to take it from me.
“It’s attuned to Seth’s aura and now to mine, so I’m not sure if you touching it would make it go on the fritz. ”
He grunted. “Better not risk it then I suppose. I take it you haven’t used it yet?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think I’m ready to see him again yet. I’m too angry with him. Gabriel advised me to wait a few days until I feel more settled.”
“I take it the meeting didn’t go well then?”
“Yes and no.” I felt myself start to blush as I remembered how it had started out. “It was fine until he admitted that the only reason he hasn’t come back yet is because he’s choosing to stay there. He’s choosing his father and the Underworld over me. How can I not be angry with him?”
“You’ve got your blinkers on again, Zara,” he said with a sigh. “I thought you understood that there is more at stake here than just what you and Seth want. Why do you think Seth found a way for you to dream walk to him? Apart from wanting to see you of course.”
“So he’d have more time to explain everything to me,” I said reluctantly.
“Then I assume he wants to tell you more about what’s going on in a setting where Michael can’t eavesdrop.”
“Gabriel said that too. He also said they have no idea how long the effect will last. It could be hours, it could be minutes.”
“Best get business out of the way first then, before you move on to more pleasurable things,” he teased and I blushed again. I wasn’t about to tell him Gabriel had said that as well. “When do you think you’ll use it? I might have another picnic while you’re gone.”